A/N:...I am alive, if only just, and I am proper steamed.
Do forgive an old man his rant, I've had one hell of a flight/trip and I'm exhausted from vacation.
Well, it was a vacation in that I technically managed to get away for awhile, yet it was also not a vacation.
Allow me to explain; visiting family is nice and all, but this old man got henpecked half to death by everybody.
You don't visit often enough they say, you should come by more often, you should come to this wedding or that, or do this, on and on it went. Nevermind the fact that I had to drive miles upon miles to even get there. Then I come home to find out that my new mechanic bloody swindled me while I was away and did a ton of work on my car that I DID NOT ask him to do all without telling me. His excuse? Oh, I had to do more work than I thought, so it costs more, sorry. You can still pay, right? Ended up paying thousands of dollars for it, and I'm not giving that bloke my business anymore.
Worse, the lads I had watching my house wrecked it while I was away. Completely trashed the place. *siiiiigh*
In other news, A New Archon wlll be updated by Thursday. Weekly update it is.
That said, can anyone see this?
Site is still broken it seems. NO NOTIFICATIONS FOR NEARLY A MONTH NOW. At least the app works, so there's that. Alas, it seems site notifications are busted at the moment. Folks get them in the app, but not on the web browser, which is becoming a proper pain for some of us. Hopefully they'll fix it soon...though it has been almost a month days with no response about the emails...
No response from the admins and the like, writers are leaving in droves and the like.
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing, despite depression clawing at me.
Once more, I own nooooo references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one. Nope.
They're simply tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.
"Death is not the end you see, but only the beginning.
Round and around life goes, making us stronger.
Until, one day we realize...
~?
The Cat's Meow (Interlude)
There were days as of late -years more like!- when Ozpin believed the Brother Gods were laughing at him.
If not, they certainly had a twisted sense of a humor.
Take his life, for instance.
He had seen horrible horrors, things to make men scream and women tremble, hunters and huntresses alike. He had failed to save many -so very many!- time and again, ever focusing on the future and the promise of a brighter tomorrow, one that always seemed so far away. He wouldn't lie, there had been cycles times when he had given into despair; more than a few where he'd lost himself at the bottom of a bottle, only to crawl back out a lifetime later. There were day when he regretted accepting the God of Light's deal and wished for the sweet release of oblivion.
Today was such a day.
Pinching the bridge of his nose to stifle a long-suffering sigh, the headmaster raised his mug and took a long draught. Hot cocoa burned his throat all the way down; he accepted it stoically, knowing he deserved the pain. This would fade, but the memory of his failure would not. Such would be his burden to carry forevermore.
It had taken the better part of three days to confirm the fate of Blake Belladona's parents, but once he had...well. If he hadn't thought the gods cruel before, he certainly did now. They giveth and they taketh, they swear and they sunder, they save and they torment, all without remorse. Even in their absence Remnant was not free from the cruel machinations of fate.
For you see, Ghira and Kali Belladona were dead. He'd seen their bodies in the morgue. Their faces.
A tragic incident with the authorities had led to their untimely demise, one he would've liked to blame on Jacques, but he couldn't. Not without proof. And there was none. The man was squeaky clean, almost suspiciously so. By all accounts young Blake Belladon's parent's had come to Vale with their daughter to found another sect of their still-peaceful White Fang. Such had been their intent...until a lunatic gunned then down in cold blood during a protest.
Guilt was a heavy noose around his neck.
He should have done more to help them. To save them.
Heaven knew he could have. If he'd just honored their request to meet, he might've been there.
But he hadn't now, had he? He'd been too focused on fending off Jacques and his ilk to even consider the danger they might be in. Was this Salem's doing? Could it be? Distract him with one hand then strike with another while he wasn't looking? She would stand to gain from the White Fang losing two of its most respected leaders...and yet. Something gnawed at him. He was missing a piece of the puzzle here-
"...!"
"No fair! You cheated!"
"It ain't cheatin' if I'm the strongest, Blake!"
A merry racket ahead of him tore the world-weary immortal from the muddy mire of his thoughts. He opened his eyes, lowered his mug and looked away from his feet at last.
Isn't it remarkable, how just a little light can brighten the darkness?
All hope was not lost.
Not yet.
Despite the tragedy, he found himself feeling...dare he say hopeful, as he watched the children chase one another across the yard. Naruto danced backward, eyes hidden beneath his blindfold, yet grinning from ear to ear as he swayed back from little Blake's grasping hands. Neo was far faster than the untrained girl, but even she found herself hard-pressed to catch him. Despite their best efforts they just couldn't reach him and wound up tripping over one another. Ozpin knew that wasn't the purpose of this exercise; oh no. He knew his son better than that. He was
For all his claims of being the "strongest" the boy could be devilishly distracting when he wanted to be.
Naruto and Neo had taken Blake into the fold like no other, welcoming her as if she were their own sister. He very much doubted they'd let anyone separate them. So long as the little kitten was preoccupied by her "family" she wouldn't be grieving that which she had lost. Some might call that a childish tactic. Perhaps it was. Nevertheless, it was effective. Beneath his teasing, Blake was quite disracted.
Glynda hummed at his side, reminding him of her presence. "He has a talent for making friends it seems."
"Indeed." he took another long sip from his mug. "Its a shame what happened to her parents."
His wife sighed. "Ozpin, it wasn't your fault."
Yes, it was. Truly, the loss of the Belladonnas would be felt far and wide. He wanted to believe they'd survived the incident that separated them from their daughter but...bodies didn't lie.
"We can't just leave her like this," she continued apropos of nothing. "Something needs to be done. Speaking of doing...
"...?"
He looked to his wife and froze. Glynda had one hand to her cheek and he couldn't miss the longing look she sent Blake's way. For a moment she dearly reminded him of Salem with her hair down and that half-lidded look in her eyes. It was such a striking sight that he found his breath stolen away for a moment. And then:
"I want one.
Now it was his turn to sigh. "Glynda, no."
"Glynda, maybe." she fixed him with a steely glare. "Naruto's getting older. It won't be long before he's off to Signal. And what then? Beacon? He's going to be the next you, Ozpin. I can see it. He'll be leading the charge against Salem sooner than you think."
Ozpin tried to object and failed. He could see it now; the boy was already beginning to forge a vast network of allies. From young Winter Schnee of Atlas to the enigmatic Neo, one couldn't forget little Yang and Ruby and now, he'd somehow secured the loyalty of a young Blake Belladona. What was next? Mistral? Already he'd spread his influence wide. He was curious to see what would become of all this.
"Hmm, yes." he tapped his cane down and pointedly looked away. "I daresay she won't be prepared for him. We may see a bumper crop of Hunters this year."
Glynda sidled up to him and looped an arm in his. "That's not what I'm talking about and you know it."
...I don't know if I'm ready for another child just yet," he confessed.
"You say that, but you've been watching her, too."
...fair. You always could read me."
"Hmhmmhmm." Glynda hummed and laid a hand on his chest, green eyes shining with Maiden fire. "I'm sure Summer wouldn't mind babysitting...
"Tonight?" He hazarded.
"Today." her grip tightened on him.
There would be no sleep for him that night. Not a wink.
He looked back to the children with a rueful sight.
Now then, what was the old saying again?
"May you live in interesting times...
(.0.0.0.)
Blake was getting better.
Naruto could see it in her eyes -really, the blindfold wasn't half as effective as he would've liked-but she wasn't quite where he wanted her to be yet. That was to be expected, he supposed. It was a testament to him and Neo's near-constant-care that the poor girl hadn't shattered already. She really was a little trooper; that, or very good at ignoring her trauma.
But when she tripped and fell down...he heard it.
The telltale hiccup that promised tears.
Wuh-oh.
He knelt hurriedly before her. "How you holdin' up?
She tucked her knees into her chest and huddled in on herself. "I miss them...
Her parents. Ah, shit. He'd known this was coming sooner or later. Might as well deal with it now...
"Don't worry." He tugged up his blindfold, revealing a glowing blue eye. "I'm Naruto, remember? The strongest. No one's going to harm you. Remember what I promised?" he winked her way. "I'll get the bastards who got them, don't you doubt that for a second.
She hiccuped a little. "Promise?"
"Yup."
A little whine. "Pinky promise?"
He hooked his finger in hers. "Don't worry."
Neo tapped a foot with an expectant expression
"Fine, fine!" he laughed. "Pinky promise with you, too. You know, this reminds me of a story. Lemme tell you about an old sourpuss I once knew...
(.0.0.0.)
Sasuke sneezed.
Baleful eyes looked to the horizon.
He had the feeling somewhere, somehow, someway, Naruto was talking about him.
A/N: Aaaand scene.
Hope you enjoyed it. Not at my best at the moment.
So, what say you? Did you enjoy it? By all means, let me know~!
As ever, the Embers rule Remains; sad as that may sound, its the truth. If folks don't like this story...well, it won't be continued. Most likely, I'll delete it and consign it to the void should it come to that. I haven't the time to write something folks don't like. Two jobs keep me terribly busy as such that I have barely any time to write.
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly!
And as ever, Le warning!
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
(Previews)
Sasuke had garnered another reason to fight. No matter. He hadn't been idle, either. He regarded the mountain before him with a smile, placed his hands together in a eldritch seal. A new technique deserved a new name. What to call it. This was his world, his domain...aha! That was it!
Domain Expansion.
The mountain, and everything around it was carved into pieces.
"I have to go on this mission. They need me."
"Ruby needs you more."
She whirled. "Wha-
Naruto's fist thundered into the back of Summer's head. She dropped like a sack of potatoes.
Ruby tugged at his arm. "He's my friend!"
"Nuh-uh! I saw him first!"
"First is the worst, second is the best!"
"Nonsense. Third is the one with the treasure chest."
Naruto sighed. "This is my life now, isn't it? Guess this is what I get...
Apparently Winter liked to text. Even if she was pants at it.
Trivia hefted the bucket and flicked him a thumbs up.
"Hey, hey!" Naruto flicked her a chastising look. "Don't go playing pranks without me!"
"Hey, firecracker. You alright...?"
"You're fighting with her, not me. Is it because I'm weak?
You're not weak. She's just older than you.
Then I'll get stronger!
Another one?" Salem crooned. "Delightful. Do keep up the recruiting, son.
Sasuke heaved a sigh.
"One year, Raven. Don't forget."
EDIT: Hey, you made it!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well, it won't be continued. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Looking forward to chatting with you all~! Have a great day~!